The potential of the developed territory depends first of all on the location and accessibility.
The location of the territory is unique - the connection with the sea, the horizon and the sunrise. As an expression of the deepening of this relationship, the appearance of the bridge many years ago. Maintaining a continuous visual contact with the natural phenomenon during the functional structuring of the territory becomes the main goal of the architects.
Accessibility to the territory from the alleys along the coast is easy, but due to the relief, accessibility from the most dynamic area - the terrace in front of the casino, which is the end of "Bogoridi" street, is really difficult. Many people prefer not to go down and up the many steps, and for mothers with prams and the disabled, access is practically impossible without a large extension of the road. To increase activity on the territory, it is proposed to go down with two elevators and a footbridge from the second terrace in front of the casino.
How does the project meet the criteria set for evaluation?
- Linkage with the existing alley network - the design solution is fully aligned with the existing alley network. A newly built section of promenade is only in front of the establishment to the south of the bridge in order to maintain the visual connection of passers-by with the sea.
- Compliance with the current PUP of the city of Burgas - the imposed slight deviations from the current PUP are related to the way in which the existing staircase to the monument is developed and the impossibility of developing a building in front of it.
- Relation of the volume solution with the general silhouette solution of the territory - the territory is saturated with a strong charge due to the natural features and is a prerequisite for bold architectural and constructive solutions. The appearance of the casino building, which dominates the skyline of the territory and is a great base for searching for a matching contemporary architectural image, is not accidental.
- Maximum compliance with the characteristics of the terrain - the steep terrain allows the buildings along the coastal promenade to rest on the cliff and this ensures continuous visual contact with the sea, and at the same time they remain low and do not impose themselves as a silhouette from the upper promenades.
- Degree of intervention in the bridge facility - the peripheral reinforced concrete cantilever elements, which are potentially the most dangerous areas, have been removed from the bridge and replaced with metal cantilevers on dowels accessible for inspection. This has enabled a new treatment of the silhouette and the inclusion of wood as a natural and warm material that makes an association with the traditional old execution of the bridge. The wood is also used as flooring, pergolas and design elements/benches, flower beds, baskets/. Also done: Widening of a 60-meter strip covered with a pergola. Relocation of the ladder and lighthouse cantilever outside the gauge of the bridge, which has resulted in an increase in space on both levels. Site of jump facility and pier found.
- Types and grid of the flooring – for the main flooring of the bridge and the open terraces of the restaurants, the wood, articulated with white stripes of slabs, was chosen.
- Lighting – several types of lighting fixtures have been designed to illuminate the territory. The individual design of the lighting fixtures leads to their organic interweaving in the overall idea of the complex and contributes to its stronger impact. The intended lighting fixtures are modern LED systems with ten times greater efficiency than traditional ones. Several types of spectacular lighting are also planned - the headlight, the seven pylons of the pergola and the lighting built into the floor (which is in an area allowing revision from below).
- Landscaping - richly planned throughout the territory - in flower beds, combined with seating areas along the bridge and to shape the periphery of the retaining walls. Falling vegetation on the retaining walls makes the perception of the solid walls more pleasant, and the flowering on the side of the alley and towards the open terraces of the establishments will enrich the already impressive natural picture.
- Good functional zoning is based on ensuring continuous visual contact with the sea for all functional groups – those walking along the promenade, resting on the benches, sitting in the restaurants.
It is important for the bridge to provide conditions for the development of various functional areas where pedestrians, fishermen, yacht and surf clubs, lifeguards, etc. to find their place. For this purpose, the following was done: In a certain section (60m in length) a zone covered by a pergola, 7m wide, with benches and landscaping was set aside through a bilateral extension.
By moving the stairs to the periphery in the area of the two-story part, spaces are freed up: on the first level - covered (with greenery and benches) and on the second level - partially covered with an awning. Accordingly, locations of two-level diving facilities and a pontoon pier were found.
Realism of the design solution - the project is fully adapted to the capabilities and level of contractors and builders in Burgas and the country.
Possibility of phased implementation - in essence, the overall design solution consists of separate, independent objects and facilities: the restaurant and coffee shop, cocktail bar, pier, diving facility, lighthouse and staircase to the second level. Each of them can be performed as a separate stage.
Correspondence and connection with tradition - fortunately, as a tradition in architecture we have the Casino - an innovative building for its time, which even now covers a large part of the vision of modern architecture and is a good prerequisite for developing a modern, dynamic and bold architectural image. And wood, as a natural and warm material, will ensure the connection with the old bridge and the old construction technologies, showing all its advantages of a modern and modern material.
Different aspects of the design solution:
- Colors and materials - wood in natural color: flooring, pergolas, benches, flower beds; – white: metal structure, walls, strips of granite slabs.
- The protection of the metal from corrosion - a possible option is cathodic protection, but this is significantly expensive. The most suitable option is hot galvanizing and painting for a good look. This requires elements up to 6m and a bolted connection between them, which is completely achievable with the particular solution.
- Wooden elements and their maintenance - the best option is teak wood, which is very strong and practically eternal. Every year it is oiled to look good. There are also variants with polymers with wood particles. Oak or even coniferous material can be used for the trellises, shutters and handle.
Construction of the wharf - due to the requirement that there be no new construction in the water area, the wharf must be built from anchored pontoons. There are such facilities with dimensions of 4 by 20m and a height of 2m, and when anchored, they are established 80cm above the water. One or several can be installed parallel to the shore. With the necessary mooring distances, the capacity of one pontoon is 4-5 middle-class yachts/up to 15m/ per side. The problem is that these are facilities for protected water areas and in this case they will have to be removed during the autumn-winter period or the construction of a protective facility will have to be foreseen.
